Former President Goodluck Jonathan had warned that Nigeria’s democracy could face a deeper legitimacy crisis if the judiciary continues to determine electoral winners instead of the ballot.
According to him, politicians now head to court because they believe judges can overturn the will of the people.
Jonathan spoke on Wednesday, at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) ‘Abuja Law Week 2026’, which was held at the NBA House, Abuja, with the theme: ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democratic Process’.
The former President, who attended as Special Guest of Honour, said electoral integrity, judicial independence and institutional reforms were critical to preserving Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the increasing number of post-election litigations in Nigeria had become abnormal and dangerous to democratic stability. “At the end of every round of elections, the number of cases that go to court is overwhelming.
“Some of the people go to court, even their family members don’t vote for them. But they go to court simply because we believe that the judiciary could be manipulated to declare people who ordinarily are not supposed to win the election as those who have won the election”, Jonathan stated.
He argued that courts should not declare winners in disputed elections but should instead order fresh polls where irregularities are established. “The Judiciary will do their work, but they should not declare any candidate. If they are not satisfied with the process of the election, then they should go back to the field. Let the ballot decide who wins,” he stated.
The former President further lamented low voter turnout in Nigeria, describing it as the worst on the African continent despite the country’s population advantage. He blamed electoral violence and political thuggery for weakening public trust in elections, saying the country had normalised a dangerous culture where political thugs wield enormous influence.
He stressed that democracy was not sustained merely through periodic elections but through strong institutions, credible electoral processes, accountability and rule of law. “The INEC must remain independent, not only in name, but in practice. Once citizens lose confidence in the electoral process, democracy itself becomes endangered”, he warned.
Jonathan also cautioned the Judiciary against becoming an instrument for political manipulation. “The courts must never become instruments for political manipulation or partisan interests. “Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done fairly, courageously and without external influence”, he added.
Earlier in his keynote address, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), warned that Nigeria’s democracy was standing at a “precarious crossroads,” saying public confidence in elections had continued to erode. According to him, although Nigeria had sustained democratic rule since 1999, continuity alone did not amount to democratic credibility.
Also in attendance at the event were the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Husseini Yusuf, who was represented, President of the African Bar Association, Ibrahim Maku, Chairman of NBA Abuja Branch, Steve Emelieze, (SAN), Chairman of the 2026 Law Week Planning Committee, Dr. Chinedu Obienu, and Onyeka Obiajulu, Secretary of the NBA Abuja Branch, among others.
